The alternate dimension was a wash of gray and white, so silent it felt almost dead.
Manji stood opposite Obito, watching him calmly with his Byakugan.
"Let me introduce myself first."
"I'm the Observer of this world. I maintain the established order and timeline, dealing specifically with Otherworlders like you to keep you from derailing the plot."
Manji paused, his tone as level as ever.
"From the moment Rin died, you began disrupting the original balance. Reclaiming Dual Kamui, burning Madara's corpse, taking command of White Zetsu, nearly killing Black Zetsu... everything you've done has pushed the timeline off the course I set."
"I didn't intend to show myself this early. But you moved too fast. So fast that I had to intervene personally."
Manji spoke dispassionately.
Obito's pupils contracted slightly.
He stared fixedly at the man before him, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
He had yet to fully recover from the shock of being forcibly dragged into this dimension. Now, hearing words like "Observer," "timeline," and "Otherworlder" sent his mind reeling.
The Observer? Maintaining the timeline?
He... knows I'm an Otherworlder?
Obito's breathing stopped for a barely perceptible instant.
Instinctively, he tried activating Kamui again, but there was still no response.
The patterns of Dual Kamui flickered wildly in his eyes, yet he could not manage even basic Intangibility.
"You say you're the Observer."
Obito's voice betrayed a hint of panic, though he fought to stay calm.
"And you deal specifically with Otherworlders?"
He raised his head, his gaze openly wary and probing.
"What about Black Zetsu, then? He's an Otherworlder too. Did you just rescue him?"
Obito Uchiha demanded an answer.
Manji did not deny it. He merely nodded slightly.
"Obito, you really are clever. At least you're not some dimwit."
"I took him away. For